Why the rainbow flag is now one of many during Pride month
Flag designs have proliferated as the celebration of gay rights has become more inclusive
LOOK UP AT a flagpole in most big American cities in June, and you will probably see three banners: the stars and stripes, the state or city emblem and a rainbow flag, which is flown to mark LGBTQ Pride month. But if you attend a Pride parade in one of those cities, you may see several flags with different colours and symbols riffing on the familiar rainbow stripes. The Human Rights Campaign, an American LGBTQ-rights lobby group, lists 25 Pride flags on its website. Why so many?
From the June 24th 2023 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the editionMore from The Economist explains
Where does Santa come from?
How a miracle-working Greek bishop, Dutch folk figure and early New York icon became the ubiquitous symbol of Christmas
Who are the main rebel groups in Syria?
They were united against the country’s dictator. Now they have little in common
Is RFK junior right to say America allows more toxins than the EU?
He is, but things are slowly beginning to change
What would it cost to kill coal?
The price of shutting down coal power, and what would be gained
Should America ban fluoride in its drinking water?
The idea by Robert F. Kennedy junior—nominated by Donald Trump as health secretary—may have teeth
Why is Donald Trump keen to use “recess appointments”?
The president-elect is testing the loyalty of the Senate’s next majority leader